NMSU Regent Jerean Camuñez Hutchinson has tendered her resignation as regent effective April 30. Kokopelli has obtained a copy of Hutchinson’s resignation letter dated April 10 in which she indicated she is resigning “due to personal and professional commitments.”
A Las Cruces native and NMSU alumna, Hutchinson has served on the Board of Regents for four years. Hutchinson indicated in her letter that it has been “an honor to serve as a regent” and that she has “always had a deep passion for all things New Mexico.”
NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu praised Hutchinson for her service. “Jerean Hutchinson has served our university with distinction on our Board of Regents for the past four years. Her commitment to the success of our students is unparalleled and we thank her for all of her efforts that focused on helping students graduate on time, get a job and eventually give back to the university. We are a better university for her efforts and we are fortunate to have someone like her in our community,” Arvizu said.
NMSU Board of Regents Chair Dina Chacón Reitzel released the following statement: “We thank Jerean Hutchinson for all of her work on the NMSU Board of Regents. She brought an important perspective to our university and we appreciate all of her efforts on our Student Success Committee. We wish her the best going forward.”
Hutchinson and her husband Tom, aka “Hutch,” have owned and operated the La Posta de Mesilla restaurant in Mesilla, New Mexico, since 1996. No official word has yet been released by the governor or by university administrators regarding Hutchinson’s replacement.
